Your Future In Restaurants Starts Here

We are dedicated to changing lives and uplifting communities.

The Educational Foundation empowers people from all backgrounds with the training and education they need to secure a better future.

We do this through the vast opportunities offered in the restaurant, foodservice and hospitality industry.

Help Advance Their Careers!

During this season of gratitude, we’re pleased to share with you several individuals who have survived and thrived through the pandemic, thanks in part to their careers in the restaurant and foodservice industry.

During the month of Devember, any gift you make to the NRAEF will be
doubled thanks to our generous friends at Tito's Handmade Vodka®,
who will match your donation up to $100,000! LEARN MORE

Join us as we celebrate the people behind the restaurant industry’s big comeback. Their powerful stories of perseverance, community engagement and inclusion inspire us all to do our part.

Journeys that Inspire continues with our Community Service series of uplifting stories, brought to you by American Express. It features members of the restaurant industry who demonstrated exceptional resilience and adaptability during the pandemic, and then extended that strength by supporting their local communities.

Read the Press Release
Read all of the Journeys that Inspire - Community Service

Lebanese Taverna
Washington, DC Metro Area

The Abi-Najm started Lebanese Taverna after escaping Lebanon's Civil War. The family remains very active in the local community, having recently prepared 1,000 meals for Afghan refugees arriving to the city after a harrowing journey and raising $150,000 for the Lebanese Red Cross and World Central Kitchen, immediately following an explosion in Beirut in 2020.

Elephants Delicatessen
Portland, Oregon

This Certified B Corporation “uses the power of business to solve social and economic problems,” adopting a low-income apartment building and stocking its food pantry. Aiming to “help people help people,” Elephants introduced the “Good Neighbor Menu,” featuring well-priced meals that can be purchased, donated and delivered to shelters, healthcare workers and first responders.

Canlis
Seattle, Washington

Third-generation owners Mark and Brian Canlis personify reinvention and resilience. When they were forced to temporarily close their fine-dining restaurant, they transformed their business into a drive-in movie theater, roadside BBQ and a crab shack. They launched Canlis Community College, live streaming classes on food & wine, raising $60,000 for local hunger relief and job training.

Journeys that Inspire - Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion starts the series of uplifting stories, brought to you by PepsiCo. It features members of the restaurant industry who have championed diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and in many cases achieved the American Dream as immigrants to this country.

Read the Press Release

Read all of the Journeys that Inspire - Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion - Brought to you by PepsiCo

The NEW ProStart® Virtual Lounge is Live!

The ProStart Virtual Lounge, powered by Coca-Cola, is a new interactive networking site for the national ProStart community, including current and former students, educators, state coordinators, and mentors from the restaurant and foodservice industry.

The Virtual Lounge is a great place to chat with other students from across the country, track progress on individual goals, and check out exclusive culinary demos, tutorials, and enter contests that are only open to members of the ProStart community.

The Student Lounge is also a great place to meet students before competing together in local, state, and National ProStart Invitational competitions.

REGISTER TODAY!

NRAEF News

National Apprenticeship Week Spotlights Pathways to Advancement for Restaurant Workers

NRAEF celebrated the U.S. Department of Labor’s annual National Apprenticeship Week by spotlighting multiple pathways for restaurant and hospitality workers, young adults, and veterans to advance their careers. Under the newly launched "Restaurant & Hospitality Leadership Center", restaurant employers and workers nationwide can participate in several accredited career development training and advancement programs

Read the press release

NRAEF Shine a Spotlight on Excellence in Community Service

The series of inspiring stories, brought to you by American Express, features three restaurant companies who demonstrated exceptional resilience and adaptability during the pandemic, and then extended that strength by supporting their local communities.

Read the Press Release

$1.1 Million in NRAEF Scholarships and Grants Awarded

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation's 2021 scholarships and individual grants were awarded to more than 300 students pursuing post-secondary education at more than 130 colleges and universities across 44 US states and territories.

Read the Press Release

Select the best option for you:

New to the restaurant industry Currently in the restaurant industry Educators or Instructors Military Employers

Advance your career with education, training and certifications.

Scholarships

Since 1987, we’ve helped nearly 2,000 students with merit-based undergraduate scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $10,000.

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Apprenticeships

Come join the first-ever apprenticeship program developed specifically for restaurant, food service, and hospitality.

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Certifications

Whether you want to get ServSafe certified or become a Certified Secondary Foodservice Educator, we have you covered.

Educator Certification

Be A Changemaker

Support our mission to feed dreams and build futures in the restaurant, foodservice and hospitality industry. 100% of every dollar you donate will directly support the mission of the Foundation.

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